An estimated 7,656,200 people resided in Washington state as of April 1, according to annual estimates prepared by the Office of Financial Management. The COVID-19 crisis did not have a discernible impact on the 2020 estimates because most population change occurred before the crisis began. Strong population growth continued in Washington, with the state adding 109,800 people over the last year, a 1.5% increase. Migration continues to be the primary driver behind Washington’s population growth.
The Nonresponse Followup operation (NRFU) will determine the status of the nonresponding addresses to the 2020 Census. NRFU will ascertain whether nonresponding addresses have housing units and whether they are occupied or vacant. If a housing unit is occupied then NRFU will enumerate that housing unit. It is anticipated that 60 percent of all U.S. addresses will self-respond in 2020. The remaining 40 percent of addresses will make up the NRFU universe.
In an op-ed in The Marysville Globe this week, Arlington Mayor Barb Tolbert outlines why her city is engaging early on outreach and data preparation for the 2020 Census:
This program is local governments’ last chance to update the Census Bureau’s address list before April 1, 2020, Census Day. This program allows local jurisdictions to submit city style mailing addresses for housing units constructed and/or completed after address canvassing and LUCA. In addition, local jurisdictions should submit lists of group quarter addresses and transitory housing locations (such as shelters, soup kitchens, official homeless housing, and regularly scheduled mobile food vans).
